Neighbourhood PTA - 20 January 2019

Neighbourhood 20 JANUARY 2019

PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE

She’s a keeper Once you’ve decided to make Midstream your home, there’s really no need to live anywhere else ever again, page 2

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SUBURB FOCUS: MIDSTREAM

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PROPERTY NEWS

20 JANUARY 2019

Neighbourhood

Suburb focus

Midstream Midstream is an upmarket residential estate development perfectly located in Centurion East offering easy access to Pretoria, Joburg and Ekurhuleni WORDS: BETSIE LOOCK-VAN DER MERWE IMAGES: RENE WALKER, SUPPLIED & GOOGLE MAPS

T

he Midstream development does not only consist of a group of distinguished residential estates, but also include necessary dayto-day amenities and requirements like schools, medical facilities and a hospital, shops, restaurants, churches, sport and recreation facilities, and many more within its borders.

The oldest of the residential estates – Midstream Estate – was launched in 2003. Midfield Estate, Midlands Estate, Midstream Heights, Midstream Ridge Estate, Midstream Hill, Retire@Midstream and Midstream Meadows followed, resulting in the establishment of approximately 5,500 families in the area by 2018.

The development offers stateof-the-art security systems and a lovely tranquil location on the outskirts of the city, within easy access of Gauteng’s freeways, airports and the Gautrain system.

Property

Midstream offers a mixed bag of trendy, elegant properties suiting a wide range of property preferences, needs and budgets.

PUBLISHED BY TIMES MEDIA PROPERTY PUBLISHING 1st Floor, Block H, Sable Square cnr Bosmansdam and Ratanga roads Milnerton, Cape Town

There are more established estates, like Midstream Estate, offering properties with beautiful settled gardens, while recently developed estates, like Midstream Meadows, offers new owners the opportunity to see the foundations of their dream homes being laid.

First-time homeowners can enter the market here at around R2,8m for a comfortably sized home, cluster house or townhouse with an average floor space of approximately 200m2, usually comprising two to three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms and a double garage.

Close to 60% of property owners in Midstream falls in the 36 to 49 age group of which the more established would be able to invest in more luxury properties, priced roughly between R3,5m and R7.5m. On average these homes have between four and six bedrooms, four or more garages, staff quarters, as well as other conveniences such as irrigation systems, aircon, a pantry, satellite and more.

Designer properties at the upper end of the market include glitzy mansions, architectural masterpieces and enchanting castle-like homes ranging on average from R5m to

*Map not to scale

R12m. On the extreme upper end are the extravagant and grandiose, coming in at an asking price of between R8m and R18m and situated on stands in excess of 2,500m2 in size.

The estate also caters to hip yuppies or young couples preferring a lock-up-and-go luxury apartment lifestyle, e.g. Ascend to Midstream where luxury apartments are on the market for about R2,5m to R4,5m.

Retire@Midstream offers a relaxed but graceful lifestyle to retirees in the form of semi-detached, townhouse or bachelor units ranging in price from about R1,3 to R3m or more.

Schooling

According to the developer, Bondev, the team saw the establishment of educational facilities as one of the vital elements for a sustainable community.

Following consultation with, among others, Dr Michau Heyns from the University of the Orange Free State and former headmaster of Grey College, it was decided to establish the Afrikaans-English parallel-medium Midstream College providing schooling from pre-primary level up to matric.

EDITORIAL TEAM: Group Editor: Carla Redelinghuys carla@yourneighbourhood.co.za Senior Sub-Editor: Marana Brand Designers: Anja Bramley & Samantha Durand Visit yourneighbourhood.co.za

Today, Midstream also boasts three baby houses catering to babies and little ones aged three to 36 months (Midstream College Baby House, Midstream Ridge Baby House, and Midlands Baby House); three preprimary schools (Midstream College Pre-Primary, Midlands Pre-Primary, and Midstream Ridge Pre-Primary) accommodating kids between three and six years; two primary schools (Midstream College Primary School and Midstream Ridge Primary School), and Midstream College High School. Matriculants at Midstream College participates in the exams of the Independent Examination Board (the IEB) and returned exemplary results in 2018 with two students in the top 1% of the IEB, a 100% pass rate, and a very impressive 99% of students achieving entry to degree study. A daily bus service and afterschool facilities are in place to provide essential services to the learners.

Midstream is centrally located and offers easy access to other nearby Centurion schools.

Nature

This charming development is set in

the beautiful countryside between Irene in Centurion southeast, and the Glen Austin agricultural holdings in the greater Midrand area. Midstream boasts many leafy trees, green belts, parks, cycle lanes and lovely panoramic views, which all enhances the sense of being close to nature while enjoying a healthy lifestyle.

Natural areas close to Midstream include Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve with its sprawling grasslands, abundance of wild life, bird hides and fishing and hiking opportunities; the historic Smuts House Museum and picnic terrain in Irene; and the Irene Dairy Farm which offers visitors a chance to relax in a tranquil farm atmosphere in the middle of the city. The Rooihuiskraal Historical Terrain & Animal Farm, Bishop Bird Park and the Glen Austin Bird Sanctuary, are all situated very close to Midstream.

The area is a golfer’s paradise.

Midstream boasts a 9-hole golf course while Copperleaf Golf Course, Blue Valley Golf Course, Irene Golf Course, Zwartkops Golf Course and Centurion Golf Course are nearby options as well.

ADVERTISING SALES: Call us for advertising opportunities on 087 828 0423 Production: Lucea Goosen pretoria@yourneighbourhood.co.za Online coordinator: Chantelle Balsdon chantelle@augmentcreative.com

20 JANUARY 2019

Neighbourhood

MEDICAL FACILITIES NEARBY • • • • •

Midstream Medical Centre Mediclinic Midstream Cure Day Clinics Midstream Netcare Unitas Hospital Netcare Waterfall City Hospital

PROPERTY NEWS

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Midstream is an area where we can live for the rest of our lives. These different estates cater to every stage of life, even retirement.

LINA FOURIE, RESIDENT

SHOPPING • • • • •

Square@Midstream Shopping-on-Ridgeway Grey Owl Village Southdowns Shopping Centre Centurion Lifestyle Centre

EAT • Turn ’n Tender: the steak lover’s choice • Lupa Osteria: authentic Italian wood-fired pizza, home-made pasta, Italian seafood and veal dishes • The Godfather: award-winning finedining restaurant and grill house • Bean Tree Cafe: where coffee is always a good idea • Mugg & Bean: tried and trusted • Wimpy: a favourite on your doorstep

LUPA OSTERIA

R43,192 per month

Median asking price:

R4,4m

R22,000

For a typical property (four-bedroom house)

R2,68m In a complex

For a typical property (three-bedroom house)

over a period of 20 years at 10.25% prime

For a house

4%

9% 87%

R8,483

For an apartment HOUSE

median asking price

R3,9m

R17,900 In a complex

98%

Based on

R4,4m

2%

COMPLEX

You’ll pay

Median asking price:

R23,750 For a house

HOUSE

For a typical property in this area

For rent

COMPLEX

Monthly bond repayments

For sale

APARTMENT

BAMBOO SPA & SKIN CARE CLINIC

from R 2,9 – R 4,7 mil

Spacious main bedroom, with private roof terrace, of Penthouse unit overlooking the golf course and fishing dams.

Rooftop entertainment area and swimming pool with MasterChef kitchen.

Large 2 & 3 Bedroom Units (168-294m2), with double garages.

Simplicity & Easy Living on the Greens Ascend to Midstream’s innovative estate living concept reflects the growing global trend of simplifying life, while enjoying skilfully designed luxury and exclusive shared spaces, within the unsurpassed security of the sought after and

prestigious Midstream Estate. Midstream Estate is splendidly located with easy access to the N1 and R21 highways with Centurion only 7 km’s, Sandton only 27 km’s, OR Tambo Airport 23 km’s and Lanseria Airport 40 km’s away. Ascend to

Please Contact: ASCEND

TO

MIDSTREAM LUXURY ESTATE APARTMENTS

Midstream’s large 2 and 3 Bedroom Units (168 – 294 m2), with double garages, are selling from R 2,9 – R 4,7 mil with only 4 units still available.

To simplify your life – start with how and where you live.

- Maureen: 083 269 5585 - Office: 012 940 9090 - email: maureen@midteam.co.za www.midstream.co.za

20 JANUARY 2019

Neighbourhood

Raise the roof Greening up previously unused surfaces like roofs or hard ones like balconies and transforming them from concrete deserts into soft oases has many more benefits than purely aesthetics WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER IMAGES: SUPPLIED

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orldwide, as more people try to access living space near work and play amenities, densification is the buzz word. Smaller spaces, closer together, often leaves little room for that calming green space you’d like and you need for sanity. Greening up roofs or balconies extends living areas and provides an opportunity for connection with the environment.

Visual softening of hot, hard surfaces is an important aspect of greening up roofs and balconies. Take a look at commercial office roofs in town centres which have gone green and it’s clear their action has a broader impact than imagined – employees, employers and all city dwellers benefit.

Advantages of rooftop gardens

Creating a rooftop garden needs a professional – consideration of the weight, perfecting the waterproofing, soil depth, irrigation… and more.

Justin Sam, Rooftop Landscapes, says, “It’s obviously easier to green up new builds as the building can be designed with the roof garden in mind, but there’s usually scope for some greening on the majority of roofs.”

Aesthetics aside, a green growing roof can be highly productive – organic planting can produce lush vegetable and herb gardens, but there are other advantages too.

Beyond aesthetics

A green rooftop has the ability to reduce storm water run-off and its

PROPERTY NEWS

impact, because the water is absorbed and used by the plant life. A green roof also creates an effective sound barrier, and depending on what is planted, absorbs varying degrees of noise.

And cooling and heating? A green roof absorbs heat slowly during the day and gradually releases it overnight, which has a positive effect on both cooling and heating systems. Sam says, “Green roofs even out temperature variations, lowering dependencies on air-conditioning. We have systems which allow the installation of solar PV panels above green roofs, and international research has shown that panels installed in this way operate more efficiently as the green roof lowers local temperatures.”

Sustainability is key. The reclaimed space naturally becomes a haven for birds, bees and butterflies.

What about maintenance?

“Gardens on roofs are much like their terrestrial counterparts, requiring maintenance such as weeding, fertilising, general plant care as well as irrigation maintenance,” says Sam. But landscapers choose rooftop plants carefully to limit maintenance – water-wise plants such as succulents grow well and are popular, and drip irrigation is usually installed.

“Aesthetically, grasses usually provide more height, making the garden more visible from ground level. Our clients delight in their grasses swaying in the wind. Larger plants and trees can provide privacy from neighbours.”

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Green balconies

“Green balconies provide useful elevated garden spaces. We build customised spaces that express our clients love for nature, blue skies and the outdoors,” Sam says.

Whether you create a fully green space or only partial, it needs planning. You can deck it, create a growing wall, even fully mirror a wall to visually increase the space or reflect a beautiful tree. Greg Mark of Gregory Mark approaches the design of outdoor spaces architecturally, with strong focus on furniture layouts and finishes, much as you would an interior space.

“Always start with a to-scale garden plan and clear vison for the space, especially when working within the confines of a fixed space like a balcony or veranda terrace. Scale is everything!”

If budget is a factor, he suggests, “Work with existing materials and complement them as best you can.

Most of what you see in a balcony space is vertical (walls) and borrowed views over the city or even trees – look carefully at how they affect the space.”

For a luxurious sea-view apartment in Umhlanga, Mark says, “Keep it simple – less is more. Clean lines frame – and don’t obstruct – the ocean views. We kept the planting palette simple and uncomplicated. Focal points are always important, so we installed a pair of dolphin bronzes under-planted with grasses which simulated the waves.”

Work with the space, not against it and it’s astonishing how much value can be added to an apartment or home.

AGENTS MOVE TRANSACTIONS FORWARD

No home is a perfect fit – not for the seller, not for the buyer.

Registered estate agents know how to overcome objections on price, date of occupation, and all the nitty-gritty elements that make up a property transaction. Registered estate agents have the experience to move the transaction forward.

Another good reason why you should use an estate agent

www.rebosa.co.za

REAL ESTATE BUSINESS OWNERS OF SOUTH AFRICA

Neighbourhood

stneighbourhood.co.za | 20 JANUARY 2019

MONTANA, PRETORIA

From R889 000

NO EXTRA COSTS!! BOND & TRANSFER FEE’S INCLUDED

VERY POPULAR, SAFE AREA

ABOUT THE PROPERTY • 2 Bedrooms with Built-in Cupboards, 1 study room, 2 Bathrooms (1 En suite), • Open-plan Kitchen with modern cupboards and granite tops, • Spacious Living area, Balcony with built-in Gas Braai, • Lock-up Garage and Carport • Floor area ± 120m2 • Lovely Park with built-in braai’s and extra play areas for children • Security : 1,2m boundary wall with electric fence, remote controlled gates • Adress : 548 Sixth Road, Montana, Pretoria • Walking distance from High School Montana, Montana Private Hospital, Shopping Centres • Close to N4 and N1 – easy access to both Highways • Excellent Investment • Free Wifi for 12 months • New development, completed, ready to be occupied • Levy : ± R950• Rates : ± R550-

Contact Daleen Reinders : 084-233-2934 / daleen.destiny@gmail.com

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